Biggs: 10 thoughts after Bears' loss

November 25, 2013|By Brad Biggs, Tribune reporter

6. The timeline for defensive tackle Jay Ratliff was pretty clear when the Bears agreed to terms with him on a one-year contract Nov. 2. It was going to take two to four weeks for him to get over the hurdle and ready to play, and people I spoke to suggested the timeline was likely going to fall closer to four than two. So, Ratliff has been able to watch four games now and after working in practice last week, he might have a chance to play a role in Sunday’s game at Minnesota. He would be the eighth defensive tackle to suit up this season, not including Corey Wootton. If Ratliff plays, we’re talking about a situational guy at this point. It’s unrealistic to think he can sit out 12 months and come back and log heavy playing time. But if Ratliff can give the Bears a spark and a little help, it will be a start because you just don’t know how this NFC North race is going to unfold, especially after the Lions somehow lost to the hapless Buccaneers and rookie quarterback Mike Glennon at Ford Field on Sunday.

7. There has been a lot of talk about the possibility that general manager Phil Emery will place the franchise tag on quarterback Jay Cutler. Emery has sed the tag twice in two years, placing it on running back Matt Forte and then getting a deadline deal done and then using it to secure defensive tackle Henry Melton. There is little chance the Bears will tag Melton, returning from a torn ACL, a second time. The problem with placing the tag on Cutler is it would tie up a ton of money in the quarterback for just one year. Estimates are the tag for quarterbacks will be roughly $16.2 million in 2014. If Emery wants to commit that kind of money to Cutler, he’d be far better including it as part of a guarantee in a multi-year deal. What’s the price tag for Cutler? No one can say right now.

For the sake of this item, let’s assume the Bears do not use the tag on Cutler. There are still an abundance of free agents to consider. Not many of them would be tag-worthy, but there is one player that would certainly be worth it. Kicker Robbie Gould has been terrific. He’s 19-for-20 on the season on field goals and is slated to become an unrestricted free agent. If the Bears can’t reach a deal with Gould, they could tag him for about $3.4 million -- $475,000 more than he is earning this season. The team could then try to strike a long-term deal with Gould.

What’s Gould going to be aiming for? I would be surprised if his target was not the top of the market. There is no reason it should not be. He’s the second-most accurate kicker in NFL history with a minimum of 100 attempts. Gould’s contract currently ranks ninth among kickers with an average per year (APY) of $2.7 million. Oakland’s Sebastian Janikowski is tops in APY at $3.775 million, one of seven players above $3 million. It should be noted Gould’s current deal is second in terms of Year 1 cash at $5 million, but Year 1 of his deal was 2008.

I’m not saying Gould is a prime target for the franchise tag but if Emery doesn’t use the tag on Cutler, keep in mind he’s shown no reluctance to use it in his first two years and it would be a negotiating tool available for one player. The way Gould is performing, and his high level of consistency, makes him a player the Bears probably will not want to lose.

8. Jordan Mills made his 11th start of the season Sunday and without rewatching the game just yet, he was adequate. I know we didn’t see Chris Long in the backfield a lot in the passing game. The website Pro Football Focus, which general manager Phil Emery cited in the offseason for analytics, has been tough on Mills in grading this season. Entering the weekend, he was the 76th (and lowest) ranked offensive tackle. Mills had the lowest pass-blocking grade, a reflection of the statistics PFF has compiled for the fifth-round draft pick from Louisiana Tech. Mills was credited with 47 quarterback hurries allowed (most), nine quarterback hits (tied for third most) and two sacks (39 offensive tackles had allowed more. In run blocking, Mills graded out much better at No. 36.

I asked offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer about the analytics in relation to how he has graded Mills’ effort through the first 10 games.

“I’ve seen some of the analytics and I disagree with what they are saying,” Kromer said. “When they know our system, they will know whether to grade him with a plus or a minus.